Inland Northwest communities come together to thank firefighters

Communities all over the Inland Northwest are coming up with creative ways to say thank you to the men and women on the fire lines protecting our homes and neighborhoods.

If you drive on Valley Chapel Road, you'll notice Carol Gilligan's sign topped with an American flag. "We've got it up because without the firefighters, who knows what could have happened," said Gilligan. The sign reads, "Thank you firefighters, farmers. God Bless. Tom and Carol Gilligan."

It's not the only one you'll find. "It makes us feel really good to know that the community recognizes what we do in and out everyday even though this was a large event," said Greg Godfrey, Assistant Chief with Fire District 8.

Godfrey says the support is shown far and wide even close to them right in their own fire station. Kids have come in with their parents to drop off thank you signs. "This one over here says, 'Thank you for working so hard, we really appreciate you, we are praying for you and your safety,'" said Godfrey.

The firefighters aren't just fighting the wildfires but responding to additional calls, more than 2,800 a year. "It's our way of saying thank you," said Gilligan.

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game wants to warn you about a grizzly bear that's been roaming around the Athol and Garwood area. Multiple people have reported seeing it, and wildlife officers have set up a trap to catch it, but so far they've been having trouble finding it. KHQ spoke with one woman who says the bear walked through her yard.

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game wants to warn you about a grizzly bear that's been roaming around the Athol and Garwood area. Multiple people have reported seeing it, and wildlife officers have set up a trap to catch it, but so far they've been having trouble finding it. KHQ spoke with one woman who says the bear walked through her yard.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say eight people were killed in a crash involving two vehicles in the high desert of eastern Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the head-on collision happened after 10 a.m. Monday on Oregon Route 78 southeast of the small town of Burns. Oregon State Police Capt.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say eight people were killed in a crash involving two vehicles in the high desert of eastern Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the head-on collision happened after 10 a.m. Monday on Oregon Route 78 southeast of the small town of Burns. Oregon State Police Capt.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.- A flag football league in Spokane Valley is preparing for their first practice next week but organizers say they can't help but feel disappointed because someone suddenly vandalized the fields they have put so much work into. "We're pretty disappointed, a little beat up," said Jeff Miller, the Director for Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.- A flag football league in Spokane Valley is preparing for their first practice next week but organizers say they can't help but feel disappointed because someone suddenly vandalized the fields they have put so much work into. "We're pretty disappointed, a little beat up," said Jeff Miller, the Director for Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading.

PINEVILLE, N.C. - A pregnant woman shopping at Staples says she was confronted about what she was concealing beneath her shirt: "Twins," she said. Sherell Bates tells WSOC-TV she was at the register paying for back-to-school supplies Friday when a police officer had her step aside and explain what was under her shirt.

PINEVILLE, N.C. - A pregnant woman shopping at Staples says she was confronted about what she was concealing beneath her shirt: "Twins," she said. Sherell Bates tells WSOC-TV she was at the register paying for back-to-school supplies Friday when a police officer had her step aside and explain what was under her shirt.

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. - Officials say the Silver Lake Fire west of Spokane is now 20 percent contained and about 100 acres in size. Level 2 evacuation notices remain in place for Granite Lake South Road to Salnave Road in Cheney. Crews have a line around the fire and will continue to strengthen it throughout the day and into the nighttime hours.

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. - Officials say the Silver Lake Fire west of Spokane is now 20 percent contained and about 100 acres in size. Level 2 evacuation notices remain in place for Granite Lake South Road to Salnave Road in Cheney. Crews have a line around the fire and will continue to strengthen it throughout the day and into the nighttime hours.

DRAPER, Utah (AP) - Utah firefighter Matthew Burchett said goodbye to his wife and 7-year-old son in early August, volunteering to travel with 37 fellow firefighters from his state to help battle record-setting blazes in California. Burchett died Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

DRAPER, Utah (AP) - Utah firefighter Matthew Burchett said goodbye to his wife and 7-year-old son in early August, volunteering to travel with 37 fellow firefighters from his state to help battle record-setting blazes in California. Burchett died Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

SEATTLE (AP) - A Washington state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by young activists who argued the state is violating their rights by failing to protect them from climate change. In his ruling Tuesday, King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott says the issues in the case are political questions that must be addressed by the legislative and executive branches and cannot be resolved by a court.

SEATTLE (AP) - A Washington state judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by young activists who argued the state is violating their rights by failing to protect them from climate change. In his ruling Tuesday, King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott says the issues in the case are political questions that must be addressed by the legislative and executive branches and cannot be resolved by a court.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A traveling carnival worker faces charges he sexually assaulted four people, including a 14-year-old girl, while working at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls. Two counts against 42-year-old Roberto Salaman-Garcia are misdemeanors and the second two are felonies. His attorney, Meghan Lulf Sutton, says Salaman-Garcia will plead not guilty to the charges Tuesday in District Court.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A traveling carnival worker faces charges he sexually assaulted four people, including a 14-year-old girl, while working at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls. Two counts against 42-year-old Roberto Salaman-Garcia are misdemeanors and the second two are felonies. His attorney, Meghan Lulf Sutton, says Salaman-Garcia will plead not guilty to the charges Tuesday in District Court.

MILLINGTON, Mich. - A group of young girls were nearly kidnapped during a trip to a Michigan gas station last week, but fought back and were able to get away. Police say the girls did everything right, and the man suspected of trying to nab the girls has been taken into custody.

MILLINGTON, Mich. - A group of young girls were nearly kidnapped during a trip to a Michigan gas station last week, but fought back and were able to get away. Police say the girls did everything right, and the man suspected of trying to nab the girls has been taken into custody.

SPOKANE, Wash. - Have you recently purchased a big orange tractor or possibly seen one in your neighborhood that looked out of place? Spokane Regional Auto Theft Task Force Detectives are asking for your help locating a stolen tractor.

SPOKANE, Wash. - Have you recently purchased a big orange tractor or possibly seen one in your neighborhood that looked out of place? Spokane Regional Auto Theft Task Force Detectives are asking for your help locating a stolen tractor. Detectives believe it may have been stolen between July 31 and August 3 and possibly sold to an unsuspecting victim. It is a Kubota L4701, similar to the one in the picture.

DENVER - Firefighters say 10 people have been injured, one critically, after an apparent natural gas explosion in Denver. A portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in Tuesday's blast just south of downtown. Denver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Greg Pixley said some of those injured were burned.

DENVER - Firefighters say 10 people have been injured, one critically, after an apparent natural gas explosion in Denver. A portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in Tuesday's blast just south of downtown. Denver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Greg Pixley said some of those injured were burned.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A toddler has died after falling from a 24th-floor balcony at the same northern Virginia apartment complex where a 3-year-old fell from an open window and died months ago. Fairfax County police said in a statement Tuesday that an adult caregiver was helping another child in the apartment Monday afternoon when the 2-year-old boy fell to his death from a balcony at the Skyline Towers Apartments in Falls Church.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

SEATTLE, Wash. - An iconic Seattle music venue that could've been slated for destruction has been given a temporary reprieve The City Council voted 8-0 Monday to include the Showbox in the Pike Place Market historic district. KOMO reports that would temporarily stop plans to construct a 44-story building on the site by a Vancouver, B.C. development company, the Onni Group.

SEATTLE, Wash. - An iconic Seattle music venue that could've been slated for destruction has been given a temporary reprieve The City Council voted 8-0 Monday to include the Showbox in the Pike Place Market historic district. KOMO reports that would temporarily stop plans to construct a 44-story building on the site by a Vancouver, B.C. development company, the Onni Group.

LOS ANGELES - Police are investigating after a video shows a man spanking a hippopotamus at the Los Angeles Zoo. The video shows the man crossing a railing last week and sneaking up on two hippos, Rosie and Mara. He smacks Rosie on the rear and her mother lifts her head as the man runs off and raises his arms in gesture of victory.

LOS ANGELES - Police are investigating after a video shows a man spanking a hippopotamus at the Los Angeles Zoo. The video shows the man crossing a railing last week and sneaking up on two hippos, Rosie and Mara. He smacks Rosie on the rear and her mother lifts her head as the man runs off and raises his arms in gesture of victory.